If you are exercising, reading, eating well, in a relationship, etc, because you feel you “should” be….stop!
Guilt is a repressor, not a motivator.
Instead, find reasons why you WANT to do those things. If you want to do them to form a brighter future, for instance, latch on to that, and let go of the “should.”
We need both inspiration and motivation to fulfill our goals.
Inspiration is the coal-fire, slow burn, our “why” that fuels our drive.
Motivation on the other hand is like a bonfire, strong push to create a change quickly, to push us forward.
The key difference is that if we only focus on motivation, it will burn strong, but then burn out (new years resolutions are a great example of this fact).
We need the slow, steady burn of inspiration to fuel our motivational bursts to truly get us to where we want to go.
I read this excerpt this morning and thought I should share. Many people have ideas of what can create happiness (better job, wealth, losing weight, health) but research shows that these events have little effect on lasting happiness.
The book discusses the fact that we are in fact, in control of our own happiness.
It’s a bit ironic (not channeling Alanis Morissette, don’t worry) that the quickest route to happiness lies in helping others become happy? The direct route to receiving lies in giving?
Try to spread some joy today. Give love. Smile. Spread cheer.
And be awed with the exponential amount of all the above you receive 🙂
This morning I was reminded that last Tuesday was Suicide Prevention Day.
I was sitting at the table enjoying my breakfast after the kids and Sheri had gone to school.
In my Facebook feed there was a link to donate in memory of my cousin who took his own life earlier this year.
Another acquaintance from high school was asking for prayers because they were going through a really tough time right now.
A couple that Sheri and I are friends with are going through a divorce.
Someone else posted a video of a beautiful rendition of “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (done by a choir in Ireland).
Such a powerful song. And an even more powerful movie (A Star Is Born).
It made me think:
Life is hard.
Everyone is fighting battles that we cannot see.
Depression, anxiety, struggle, are all quite common in today’s world.
Everyday life can be challenging.
Being a parent is hard too. Raising kids is not easy, they need us so much as newborns (which is hard), and as they grow their reliance lessens/shifts. That is hard to adapt to as well.
Everywhere you look, people are working hard to provide for their families, they are fighting their internal demons, they are working to improve their own lives and the lives of others…
Not a single face you see is coasting through their life.
No one is lying back in the shallows, floating through life.
I know whomever is reading this is facing strife and struggle in their lives.
So, today (and hopefully everyday) share compassion. Give kindness to others. Try to make whatever interaction you have with all these beautiful, struggling faces a positive one. Even the simplest things can help lessen their (and your own) burden.
Connect. Serve. Love. Smile. Share.
Realize that not a single Pearson’s life is “shallow”, everyone is swimming “in the deep end.”
Dissemination of Inspiration 